I've come across mention of "crop reports" in the Bombay Times in 1909 for
wheat and rice whilst transcribing and was wondering if these reports were
also mentioned in the Bombay Times in the 1850s.

I must admit I had not looked for these but they just happened to be next to
the Domestic Occurrences and thought perhaps there may be records in the
early years and may mention names of people who looked after these crops,
whether for the government or privately.